To think this is a bit much for 8 year olds?

[Mydogatemypurse]

A group of mums at my sons school have gone OTT on valentines day ... ringing other mums to alert them to who is dating who, and making sure that they are armed with presents and cards and making sure they 'dont forget'.
At the school this morning it was ridiculous. With a small group of kids getting showered with gifts/balloons etc whilst a lot were clearly left out.
Now my son isnt bothered in the slightest and didnt bat an eyelid, but my heart sank for some of the others who didnt get gifts and were looking on. I wondered about the impact on their self esteem at such a young age and whether the school should allow this.
Also I feel like a massive prude because I actually felt a bit uncomfortable with the parents encouraging the fuss, taking pictures of the happy couples kissing etc etc.
Am I completely out of touch?? I'm an old fart arent I?

I think it would be perfectly reasonable for you to talk to the school about it

YANBU My 7 year old was stressing this morning that his girlfriend was going to dump him as he hadn't got her anything!

Really, Mia? Really?

Call me old fashioned too but no way ...silly parents making a fool of themselves. If a kid wanted to send a valentine's day card to a crush even that young they would do a cute little homemade innocent one and the parents had nothing to do with it. When I was a kid. What is wrong with these people?? anything for likes on Instagram and to make out their kid is popular

of all the things the bloody shcool go on about aswell.about eqaulity.like not having races or competitions because kids will feels crap if they dont win.yet this they dont have a issue with and stop?

YANBU that's so weird

My social media today is full of pictures of piles of gifts for kids it’s like a mini Christmas in some cases. Weird as fuck imo

It's the parents that have gone overboard on it. I seen a pic on a facebook group of someone who had got her daughter a ton of presents, all wrapped nicely with a bunch of Rose's beside them. Its slowly turning into a second Christmas.

Some of the things on this thread are just cultural - I spent a few years in Canada as a child and Valentine's Day there celebrates all kinds of love. Kids give and get cards from their parents, grandparents etc. Many schools have a policy where you can't give a card to just one classmate; you have to give to the whole class. Many younger kids will also give a card to their teacher. I think it's a beautiful way to acknowledge all different types of love instead of making it another way for single people to feel shit about themselves.
That said, the situation described in the OP is creepy as fuck. What is wrong with some parents??

my 8yo DD's class made valentines cards today and DD made a heart shaped card with a love poem and a "free writst band" attached for the girl across the road.

I agree. Over the top for 8 year olds.

I was quite shocked to see 8/9yo kids coming out of school today with balloons, teddies & gift bags. Totally ridiculous and only leads to upset when some are left out

If this is kid-led, wouldn't bother me. For instance, if a boy wanted to get a Valentine's Day card and small gift for his crush or vice versa. That's about as far as I would assist with.

I don't think that prepubescent children have crushes! They just have friendships, surely?

Yanbu! Some of the mums have been losing their minds at my son's school (also 8). Running round to hand deliver gifts and cards to houses etc. Girls were being bought giant teddies and bunches of flowers and in one case a ring

On the other hand my daughter is 6 and in her class they were allowed to make cards for each other during project time and so she came home with a collection of cards from boys and girls and they had clearly had fun making them and writing them

I'm sure if you have a word with the HT and she/he asks the parents to rein it in, there will be a furious backlash. What an opportunity for Daily Mail sad face photos of the poor children who have been robbed of their special day by unfeeling school staff.

It’s really embarrassing for the ‘chosen’ ones. I bet they spent quite a few days refuting the dating rumours and / or bullying the kids they were being set up with to try and avoid teasing.

Some parents need their kids to be the first at everything.

The first to talk.
The first to walk.
The first to ride a bike.
The first to get a Valentine's gift.
The first to wear high heels.
The first to have a bra.
The first to wear make-up.

I wonder if they are also often:

The first to get drunk.
The first to try drugs.
The first to have sex.
The first to crash their car.

@Stompythedinosaur
My DD (9) tells me otherwise. A lot of her friends have what they refer to as boyfriends/girlfriends. Some have even kissed! (A peck, I'm assuming).
The mind boggles!